Bribery scandal in Judiciary: No judge discharged, official list now out
None of the judges cited in the bribery scandal in the Judiciary has been discharged. A statement issued by the Judicial Secretary explained that there was a case of mistaken identity in respect of Mr Frank Kingsley Oppong, a magistrate at Kasoa.
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“This error was corrected by Tiger Eye PI in a subsequent letter before the Disciplinary Committee of the Judicial Council started its proceedings on September10, 2015,” it said, stressing that “the Chief Justice would like to state that it is not correct that three of the 22 judges have been discharged”.
Courts running
The statement said appropriate steps had been taken to keep the courts of the suspended judges and magistrates running.
“The courts will operate normally throughout the country,” it said.
Names of judges
Meanwhile, 12 justices of the High Court have up to the close of today to submit their responses on their alleged involvement in the bribery scandal.
The statement said after the affected justices had submitted their responses, the Chief Justice, in accordance with Article 146 (3), would determine whether there was a prima facie case against them.
It mentioned the justices as Frank Opoku, Charles Quist, Kofi Essel Mensah, Mustapha Logoh, Uter P. Dery and John Ajet-Nasam.
The rest are Kwame Ohene Essel, Ernest Obimpeh, Ivy Heward-Mills and Gilbert Ayisi-Addo.
It said the remaining two, Alhaji Mohammed Ahmed Mustapha and Yaw Ansu-Gyeabuor, retired on May 1, 2015 and June 6, 2015, respectively.
President’s attention
The statement said the attention of President John Dramani Mahama had been drawn to the retirement of the two justices.
“In view of their status as retired justices, the two are not subject to the impeachment proceedings provided under Article 146 of the 1992 Constitution,” it said.
Elevated justices
It said two of the lower court justices had, since April 1, 2015, been elevated to the High Court and could, therefore, not be brought under the provision governing the lower court judges.
In view of that, it said, the Chief Justice had re-submitted the petition against the two justices to President Mahama for his directives.
It mentioned the two as Justice Daniel Obeng and Justice Asmah Akwesi Asiedu.
Lower Court judges
The statement said the remaining 20 Circuit Court judges and magistrates who had been referred to the Chief Justice to be dealt with in accordance with Article 151 of the 1992 Constitution were: Florence K. Ninepence Otoo, Alex Obeng Asante, Emmanuel K. Sunu, Benjamin Y. Osei, Baptist Kodwo Filson and Isaac Akwantey.
The others are Albert Zoogah, Courage Ofori Afriyie, His Honour Seyram T.Y. Azumah, His Worship William Baffoe, His Worship Stephen Asuure, Alfred K. A. Mensah, Kaakyire Atta Owusu and Frank Kingsley Oppong.
The rest, it said, were Samuel Ahiabor, His Worship Isaac K. Amoah, Jacob Amponsah, Michael Boamah Gyamfi and Paul K. Alhassan
Remaining staff
In respect of the court staff who are also involved in the alleged bribery scandal, it said a committee had been constituted to investigate the matter.
It said a letter had been sent to Tiger Eye PI to submit the full list of the persons involved, together with the transcripts and audio-visuals indicating the extent of their involvement.
“The management of the service has, on its own, identified some of the staff, who have already been written to. They are expected to respond by tomorrow, September 15, 2015, receipt of which the appropriate disciplinary authority will take a decision on their interdiction pending the conclusion of the disciplinary proceedings,” the statement said.
